Convener of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Ideological Group (BAT-IG), Honourable Bamidele Atoyebi, has warned that the growing reliance on consensus candidates within the All Progressives Congress (APC) risks encouraging mediocrity and undermining the progressive ideals associated with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In a statement on the party’s ongoing internal election process, Atoyebi said while consensus arrangements may have helped maintain unity and stability ahead of the APC National Convention, the practice of granting automatic return tickets to first-term incumbents could weaken leadership quality and accountability.

He noted that the party’s transition through ward, local government and state congresses has been largely peaceful due to the adoption of consensus candidates, a strategy he described as aimed at preventing internal conflict and presenting a united front ahead of future elections.

The approach provides short-term stability but raises concerns about the long-term health of the party’s leadership structure, he added.

Atoyebi warned that the “return ticket” strategy may shield underperforming office holders from scrutiny, reducing incentives for effective governance and leaving constituents without meaningful development.

He said recent field assessments revealed that more than 3,000 communities across the country still lack basic infrastructure and essential services despite years of political representation.

The BAT-IG convener said primary healthcare facilities in many rural areas remain poorly equipped and unable to treat patients effectively, adding that most lack ambulances for emergency response.

He also identified poor electricity supply as a major challenge, noting that several rural communities have never been connected to the national grid, while others suffer from collapsed power infrastructure with fallen poles left unattended for years.

In some areas where electricity exists, he said supply is limited to about one hour daily, making it inadequate for economic and household activities.

Atoyebi further described access to potable water as a major crisis in many communities, calling the situation a fundamental failure in governance and a breach of the social contract between elected representatives and constituents.

He accused many local government chairmen of abandoning their responsibilities, alleging that mismanagement of funds and lack of grassroots engagement have left infrastructure and healthcare services in poor condition.

According to him, the disconnect between leaders and citizens has slowed economic development and weakened public trust.

The BAT-IG convener also criticised what he described as a growing culture of personal enrichment among some legislators, alleging that certain members of state assemblies, the House of Representatives and the Senate focus more on securing jobs and opportunities for associates than delivering constituency projects.

He said such practices contradict the leadership philosophy of President Tinubu, whom he described as a progressive leader committed to development and excellence.

Atoyebi noted that Tinubu is known for identifying and promoting “value-carriers” referring to individuals with ideas and capacity to drive transformation and he argued that automatic return tickets for non-performing leaders are inconsistent with that tradition.

He called on the APC to adopt what he described as zero-tolerance approach toward poor performance, stressing that consensus candidacy should be reserved only for officials who have demonstrated measurable achievements.

“Consensus should be a reward for those who have measurable performance and added value to their communities,” he said.

Atoyebi added that removing non-performing leaders would help preserve the APC’s identity as a progressive party and restore voter confidence.

Honourable Bamidele Atoyebi is the convener of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Ideological Group (BAT-IG) and also the publisher of Unfiltered and Mining Reporting.